Top 6 Tropical Island Cruises around the World
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Cruises Editor
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Cruises can take you just about anywhere these days, but sometimes you just want a classic island getaway filled with beaches, palm trees, bluer-than-blue warm waters and fruity cocktails. If you’ve got island-hopping on your mind, check out the top six tropical island cruises around the world.
GRAND PACIFIC CRUISES
Two Princess ships will make their maiden South Pacific voyages in October. Diamond Princess departs Sydney on October 12 and Golden Princess departs Sydney on October 18, both bound for New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Both ships will be based in Australia for the 2015/16 summer cruising season, with Diamond Princess operating out of Sydney and Golden Princess out of Melbourne.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
To really get away from it all, check out the expedition itineraries offered by luxury cruise line Silversea. In May 2016, Silver Discoverer departs Darwin on a 15-day journey to Micronesia. The journey includes calling at Wurrumiyanga, and Elcho and Thursday islands in Australia’s Top End before heading to Indonesia to visit Missool and Wofoh islands. There are plenty of snorkelling and diving opportunities along the way; nature lovers can look for red-footed boobies and black-naped terns on Palau’s Sonsoral Island.
GREEK ISLES
From May through to October next year, Norwegian Jade glides out of Venice on seven-night journeys to explore the beautiful Greek isles. Island-hop from Corfu to Santorini and Mykonos (famous for its photogenic whitewashed houses) before heading to Katakolon on the mainland – this town is the gateway to ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
CRUISE WITH PURPOSE
Carnival’s new Fathom brand caters to cruisers who want to make a difference when they travel. Beginning in April 2016, the 710-passenger MV Adonia will do seven-day voyages out of Miami to the Dominican Republic, where passengers can help out – for a few hours or a few days – with teaching English, making water filters, cultivating cacao plants, assisting a women’s cooperative in making artisan chocolates and more.
CROSS THE PACIFIC
One of the more unusual ways to see tropical islands is via a trans-Pacific cruise. Those who want to settle in for the long haul should consider Queen Victoria’s 23-night journey departing Los Angeles on February 5, 2016 bound for Sydney. Along the way, there are ports of call at Honolulu and Lahaina (Maui), and at Apia in Samoa. There’s also a special guest speaker, with Formula One great Sir Jackie Stewart on board.
TAHITI, S’IL VOUS PLAIT
Is there a South Pacific island more stunning than Bora Bora in French Polynesia? We think not. One way to reach this playground of the rich and famous (it’s where both Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Aniston spent their second honeymoons) is via cruise ship. P&O’s Arcadia will call in to French Polynesia’s busy Tahiti and stunning Bora Bora as she sails from Chile to New Zealand from February 8, 2016 on a 17-night journey. Before reaching French Polynesia, Arcadia cruises by Easter Island, allowing passengers to see the famous giant-headed statues dotted around the coastline.
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